Top Clicks

Search the Scripture

Mark 1:40-45 is a story early on in Jesus’ ministry. It’s a story shared in somewhat the same manner in Luke 5 – a leper being healed or cleansed.

Leprosy is a disease where your body is literally rotting while you are alive. Many lepers end up with missing fingers, ears, toes and oozing soars with the smell of rotten flesh.

There was no treatment for it and the control of it was as bad as the disease itself. Lepers had to be isolated into their own little communities. Just imagine having a family that you would not be able to touch, hold or kiss ever again. Those who were closest to you would not be allowed to console you while you suffered.

Therefore, when Jesus touched this man and he was healed he received his whole life back.

But, there is a detail that Dr Luke shares that Mark misses. It is worth noting. Luke said that the man was “FULL” of leprosy.

He was not just sick but what we would think in terms of someone in stage 4 cancer. He was very bad off when he got his life back.

How about you? Are you FULL of anything? Full of frustration? Full of anger? Full of hurt? Full of disappointment? Full of bad news? Full of anxiety?

First, the man left his community, his comfort zone, and went to Jesus.

Second, what the man did was against the law. The leper was to yell “unclean” when someone came near so that they would keep their distance. This man come so close to Jesus that Jesus was able to touch him. Sometimes I feel that many of the rules that come from our churches end up keeping people from God. Forget the rules! Pursue after Him hard!

Third, maybe out of desperation, the man declared that he knew that Jesus could heal him.

Did he really believe it. For at least that moment he did.

When you are FULL of crud it is time to believe in someone better than other humans that have to deal with their own crap when they go home too.

Lord, empty me so that I can be filled with You!

To find awesome iPhone & iPad apps for the Christian Walk and Ministry go to n8slist.com

Luke 22:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

The setting is on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus often went to pray. But, on this night it was interrupted by a group let by Judas to take Jesus away.

Peter had warned Jesus that he would be willing to fight to the death for Jesus and now he is ready to prove it. Ok, he didn’t go after any of the leaders, but it was the servant of the High Priest. Ok, he did not fatally wound him, but he did happen to catch his ear.

Peter meant well, he just could not get past his fears. And yet, how interesting that God was able to take lousy aim and bring about a blessing.

Until about 10 years ago, I always pictured Jesus picking up the servant’s ear and putting it back on him and healing it. But that is not what happens.

Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Dr Luke is detailed here. It was the right ear. Jesus did not put his old ear back on but touch what was left of his ear and healed him. Do you see what has possibly happened here? Let’s look at the facts:

This man, named Malchus, was a servant, a servant of the High Priest.

It was his right ear that was cut off.

It would seem that Jesus gave him a new ear.

Now, let’s put that together. Exodus 21:6 and Deuteronomy 15:17 say that if a servant desires to stay with his master for life than he will allow his ear to be pierced with an awl. Neither of these verse give which earlobe but great significance is always given to the right side; ear, hand, thumb, toe, etc.

So, is it possible that this man had committed his service to the High Priest for life and had his right ear pierced? If so, then is it possible that in receiving a new ear, one without a hole, he was given his freedom?

Genesis 3:9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

If God is all-knowing then why could He not know what had happened to Adam and Eve. If God is all-seeing then why could He not see where Adam and Eve were?

It is said that the practice of the Rabbis with their students was to answer questions with questions. Often times the answers are found within us but we do not see them until we are asked the right questions. Jesus, recognized as a Rabbi, did this very thing.

God was not asking a question for his benefit. He was asking a question for the benefit of Adam and Eve. They, for the first time, had a sin problem and did not know what to do with it. So, God came to talk them through it and help them to discover exactly what their issue was.

Issues in our lives are not always evident. It was an obvious need to the four friends who lowered the paralyzed man’s bed down through the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching. There friend needed to be healed so that he could walk. But, that was not what Jesus did first. Jesus saw a more urgent need and addressed it. It was his salvation. They were asking the wrong questions.

When Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda He discovered a paralyzed man waiting for someone to move him into the water. But, for him he did not realize that he did not need Jesus to move him into the water. Jesus was the healer. This man was asking the wrong question.

It was revealed in Acts 8 that Simon’s problem was not what was so evident, but the Holy Spirit revealed that his problem was bitterness. Someone was not asking the right question.

Are you asking the right questions?

Why do you seem to always have problems with relationships?

Why does your anger get the best of you too often?

Why do you raise your voice to the children?

Why do you always feel the need to have control?

Why do you feel the need to physically need to give yourself away in your relationships?

Why are you always late?

Why do you keep spending money that you do not have?

Why am I not enjoying being around my children?

Why do I feel that no one likes me?

Start asking the right questions and receiving the healing you really need.